How to Chickens: Tips and Advice on Keeping Healthy & Happy Chickens

Generally speaking, most of us have some hobbies or activities of interest which we pursue during our leisure time. Certain activities are normal enough but yet not considered a regular hobby or leisure activity. One such activity is rearing hens as domestic pets!

Although to a majority it may seem a weird idea, but a growing urban population is welcoming the dear old hens and even her cute chicks as their loving pets. A variety of reasons are causing such a trend. The urban city dweller stays far from the fresh and natural farm produce of the villages and survives on tasteless eggs and meat. Keeping ones own hens assures a regular supply of healthy and organic eggs. And if any guilt pangs exist for using your own pet to satiate your hunger, then the consolation could be the knowledge of giving the creatures a good life before their departure to the other world.

Seriously, anyone of us can rear hens since after all they are already bred at poultries for commercial reasons. The only extra thing they will require from us is genuine care and affection which commercial breeding can never offer. How to Chickens Tip: Hens are social creatures, so never keep a single one; she will die of loneliness and get a pair or best keep three.

Click Here for How to Build A Chicken Coop Blueprints!

Apart from your love and similar company, chickens need their supply of nutritious food, clean water and strong shelter. Your leftover food and other tidbits may work sometimes, but not always. How to Chickens Tip: Ensure that you buy proper feed for domestic birds from a decent pet store. The chickens need protein rich diet with ample calcium for laying eggs. You also need to give them grit to help them digest their food.

Next is absolutely clean drinking water, without which your chickens will die of dehydration. The lovely creatures simply neither can drink dirty water nor sip water from an unkempt dish. How to Chickens Tip: Make sure a clean dish with equally clean water is available for the sweet little things.

Last but not the least is a strong and protective shelter for your hens or chickens. Dogs, cats and other bigger animals pose a threat to your colorful pets. How to Chickens Tip: Build a secure pen with sufficient space for them to run around while keeping them safe from both living and non-living threats. The latter refers to inclement weather. Also remember to keep the shelter always clean.

Usually day old chicks are bought to serve as hobby chicks but if you have bought much older ones, just get them checked for any disease or infections or even parasites. For the hens to lay eggs that will hatch, you need a rooster also. One healthy male is enough for 10-15 hens.

Once an egg has been laid, place it in the refrigerator unless you want it to hatch. Hens lay less eggs in the winter months due to the lack of daylight hours. How to Chickens Tip: You can use artificial lighting to keep this from happening.

Before getting chickens for your backyard, check out local laws regarding domestic animals. And be prepared to be an early riser as your hens will get up at the crack of the dawn.

If you’re ready to build a chicken coop check out this complete guide and design plans.